Yarn tension controllers and slub catchers

ABSTRACT

A yarn tension controller and slub catcher includes discs between which yarn may be fed to a knitting machine, adjustable spring means for urging one disc toward the other to maintain a predetermined tension in the yarn, and adjustable stop means for limiting the distance by which the discs may be separated by a slub acting against the discs and thereby the effective size of a yarn guide located between the discs.

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[54] YARN 'HENSMDN CUN'HROLILIERS AND SLIDE 2,420,513 5/1947 Arrowood66/163 Q RS 3,256,719 6/1966 lde 66/163 751 t1LtM'lla M"B Fl. nven or eserr 15 con, lami each, a Primary EXQWwqTLQEitR mE Asslgneei The singer py, New York, Attorney-Marshall]. Breen, William V. Ebs et a1.

[22] Filed: Feb. 23, 1972 57 AESTRACT [21] PP N -I 223,693 A yarntension controller and slub catcher includes discs between which yarnmay be fed to a knitting ma- 52 us. ca. 26/66, 66/163 Chine, adjustablespring means urging disc 51 Int. Cl mm 13/22 Ward the Other maintain apredetermined 58 Field! 6i Search 66/163; 28/64 the yarn, and adjustableP means limiting the tance by which the discs may be separated by a slub[56] References Cited; acting against the discs and thereby theeffective size of UNITED STATES PATENTS a yarn guide located betweenthe: discs.

2,407,773 9/1946 Fletcher 66/163 X 5 Claims, 5 Drawing; Figures l? I 241 f ll YARN TENSION CONTROLLERS AND SLUB CATCIIIIEES BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to knittingmachines and more particularly to yarn tension controlling means andyarn slub catchers.

2. Description of the Prior Art Yarn tension controlling devices andyarn slub catchers are well known in the knitting art. It is commonpractice, for example, to pass yarn being fed to the needies of aknitting machine, between discs which are pressed together by adjustablespring means and in this manner control tension in the yarn. It is alsocommon practice to provide slub catchers in the form of eyelets situatedbetween yarn cones and stop motion devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, discs betweenwhich yarn is caused to pass are used not only to control tension in theyarn, but in conjunction with a stop limiting separation of the discsand thereby the effective size of a yarn guide opening, to prevent slubsor yarn from passing through the device of the invention and so resultin the actuation of a stop motion device in a well known manner. Springmeans biases one disc toward the other and means are provided foradjusting the spring means to thereby change tension in the yarn. A stopwhich is adjustable to accomodate various and sundry forms of yarnlimits the distance by which the discs may be separated by a slub actingon the discs and the effective size of a yarn guide opening to therebyprevent yarn slubs from passing to the knitting needles of a machine towhich the yarn is fed.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved yarn controllingdevice for a knitting machine capable of serving both as a yarn tensioncontroller and slub catcher.

It is another object of the invention to incorporate yarn tensioncontrolling and slub catching functions in a single device whereincertain of the elements thereof perform a dual function.

It is still another object of the invention to provide improvedadjustable slub catching means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring a reading of the specification when taken in connection withaccompanying drawmgs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a prespective view showing theyarn tension controller and slub catcher of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on a substantially verticalplane taken through the axis of the device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the lines 3-3 of FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a yarn slub in the device ofthe invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through the yarn guide opening inthe device of the invention and showing a yarn slub caught in thedevice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings,reference character l0 designates the yarn tension controller and slubcatcher of the invention. Such device includes an arm l2 from which aflange Mi extends at right angles. Affixed to the flange 14 at 16 is aspring clip 13 by means of which the device of the invention may bemounted on the superstructure of a circular knitting machine as betweena yarn cone and stop motion device.

A shaft 20 is affixed to arm 12 at 22 and extends at right angles toplanar face 24 of the arm. A portion 26 of the shaft adjacent to arm 12is rectangular in cross section and includes an opening 28 which extendsthrough the shaft. A portion 30 of the shaft, extending to one side ofrectangular portion 26 is circular in cross section and includes screwthreads 32. Plate-shaped discs 34 and 36 are slidable on shaft 20 withwhich they have a loose fit. A spring 38 located between disc 36 and aknob 40 biases the disc 36 toward disc 34 and maintains the disc in aposition wherein the disc 34 contacts planar face 24 of the arm 12.

Knob 40 has a threaded connection with the screw threads 32 and whenturned moves toward or away from the disc 36 according to the directionof turning to adjust the compressive force of spring 38 and so increaseor decrease respectively the force of spring 38 on the disc 36. A boss42 also has a threaded connection with screw threads 32 and may beturned to any selected position defining a limiting position for thedisc 36, i.e.,a position into which the disc 36 may be moved against thebias of spring 38 and wherein the disc 36 squarely contacts the endsurface 44 of boss 42. The proper position of the boss depends upon thetype of yarn in use and the magnitude of the slubs therefore likely tobe encountered. The boss 42 is properly positioned when so located thatwith disc 36 against end surface 44 of the boss 42, the disc extendsover opening 28 decreasing the effective cross-sectional area of theopening sufficiently to prevent yarn slubs from passing through it. Inorder to facilitate turning, the boss is pro vided with opposed planarfaces 46 and 48 which may be engaged with a wrench.

(am 50 is fed through the device of the invention, as in the directionindicated, to pass between, the discs 34 and 36 and through opening 28in the shaft 20. Tension is imparted to the yarn leaving the device, bythe pull of the knitting machine to which the yarn is fed, and to adegree dependent upon the frictional force exerted upon the yarn by thediscs 34 and 36. Turning knob 40 is in a direction to increase thecompression of spring 38 and thereby the force exerted by the discs 34and 36 upon the yarn results in an increase in tension in the yarn,whereas turning the knob in a direction to decrease the compression ofthe spring and the force exerted on the yarn by the discs decreasestension in the yarn. A slub 52 in yarn being fed to the discs 34 and 36tends to move disc 36 apart from disc 34 and unless the slub isunusually large it finds its way into the space between the discs byslightly tilting disc 36 relative to disc 34. The slub is flattenedsomewhat in the space between the discs by the pressure of the discs andmoves to the opening 28. With the boss 42 properly set, the yarn slub 52is prevented from passing through the opening 28 because of the reducedeffective area of the opening (FIG. 4) and actuations of a stop motiondevice may thereby be provided for. An unusually large slub would ofcourse be stopped by the discs before reaching the hole 28 to providefor the actuation of the stop motion device.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form, it is tobe understood that the words which have been used are words ofdescription rather than of limitation, and that changes within thepurview of the appended claims may be made without departing from thetrue scope and spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the nature of the invention, what is claimedherein is:

ll. A yarn tension controller and slub catcher for a knitting machine,said yarn controller and slub catcher comprising an elongated memberhaving a hole extending transversely therethrough through which yarn fedto said machine must pass, a pair of discs mounted on said elongatedmember and between which yarn may be fed to said machine, at least oneof said discs being axially movable so as to be extendible over at leasta portion of said hole to thereby decrease the effective cross-sectionalarea thereof, spring means for urging one disc toward the other wherebythe discs may be caused to press against the yarn, means for adjustingthe spring to change tension in the yarn and slub stopping meansincluding means limiting the distance by which said discs may beseparated by a slub acting on the discs and against the bias of saidspring means.

2. The yarn tension controller and slub catcher of claim 1 wherein saidlimiting means is adjustable.

3. The yarn tension controller and slub catcher of claim ll wherein thelimiting means includes a stop member having a threaded connection withthe elongated member such that the position of said stop on theelongated member can be adjusted to define a limiting position oversaidhole for one of said discs.

4 The yarn tension controller and slub catcher of claim 3 wherein thespring adjusting means has a threaded connection with said elongatedmember and may thereby be positioned on said member to predetermine thecompression of said spring.

5. The yarn tension controller and slub catcher of claim 41 wherein thespring is concentric with and extends over the stop member, has one endin engagement with the spring adjusting means and the other end inengagement with a disc.

1. A yarn tension controller and slub catcher for a knitting machine,said yarn controller and slub catcher comprising an elongated memberhaving a hole extending transversely therethrough through which yarn fedto said machine must pass, a pair of discs mounted on said elongatedmember and between which yarn may be fed to said machine, at least oneof said discs being axially movable so as to be extendible over at leasta portion of said hole to thereby decrease the effective cross-sectionalarea thereof, spring means for urging one disc toward the other wherebythe discs may be caused to press against the yarn, means for adjustingthe spring to change tension in the yarn and slub stopping meansincluding means limiting the distance by which said discs may beseparated by a slub acting on the discs and against the bias of saidspring means.
 2. The yarn tension controller and slub catcher of claim 1wherein said limiting means is adjustable.
 3. The yarn tensioncontroller and slub catcher of claim 1 wherein the limiting meansincludes a stop member having a threaded connection with the elongatedmember such that the position of said stop on the elongated member canbe adjusted to define a limiting position over said hole for one of saiddiscs.
 4. The yarn tension controller and slub catcher of claim 3wherein the spring adjusting means has a threaded connection with saidelongated member and may thereby be positioned on said member topredetermine the compression of said spring.
 5. The yarn tensioncontroller and slub catcher of claim 4 wherein the spring is concentricwith and extends over the stop member, has one end in engagement withthe spring adjusting means and the other end in engagement with a disc.